Guidelines for

Punctuation of Thoughts

 

Name: __________________ Date: _______ Class Period:  ____

 

Here are some ideas to keep in mind when you are punctuating thoughts.

 

·       All actual words thought by a character must be set off in quotation marks, italics, or regular type.

·       Specific words thought must be set off from the rest of the sentence by commas.

·       The commas almost always come before the quotation marks, italics or regular type, whether before the words thought begin or before they end.

·       Some sentences end at the end of the quotation, others continue.  Be sure to punctuate appropriately.

 

Examples:

 

        “We going to write a short story in Ms. Quinson’s class,” thought Sally.  “I wonder what I will write about.”

       

Mary gazed out the window.  I can’t wait, Mary thought, until we get to go to the computer lab and get started. 

 

        That is so cool, thought Mike.  Maybe I will write a science fiction story, like the “The Secret” by Arthur C. Clarke.